Eye-catching black and whites

45,051 · May 3, 2024

45,051 · May 3, 2024

45,051 · May 3, 2024

45,051 · May 3, 2024

May 3, 2024

7 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

3,048 · May 3, 2024

13 hours ago, lesapandre said:

They sold a few but Rootes sales into France overall were pretty poor. They had for a time a posh showroom on the Champs Elysées and did punt their cars into France.

Price more than anything hobbled them - including stiff import duties on cars at the time, and that the French car industry benefitted from state support.

A Singer Vogue in 1964 was priced at 13,500F* - whereas the lowest spec Citroen DS was cheaper at 11,775F and a Peugeot 404 a lot less 9,995F. A basic Renault 4 was 5,200F.

The Vogue was also slower by 15kph than both the DS and the 404 with comparable fuel consumption. So really not much advantage in owning the Singer in France unless you fancied something a bit different and were prepared to pay the premium.

* Source: 1964 'L'action Special Salon' - Paris Motorshow Guide.

I imagine so, also once Chrysler had controlling interests in both Simca & Rootes there was probably less need for them to be imported, though that didn't stop Simcas being sold over here.

45,051 · May 4, 2024

45,051 · May 4, 2024

45,051 · May 4, 2024

45,051 · May 4, 2024

15,394 · May 5, 2024

On 03/05/2024 at 12:21, MiniMinorMk3 said:

What’s on the front?

45,051 · May 5, 2024

20 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

What’s on the front?

There's probably an oil cooler inside that box. Not much room under the bonnet on those Minis. The bungy holding it on probably wouldn't get passed scrutineering today.